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Challenges and Opportunities in Commercialization of Algal Biofuels

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Algal Biofuels

Abstract

Recently algae have received considerable scientific attention as biofuel feedstock. However there are several concerns that remain to be answered about their overall environmental sustainability and economic feasibility. In order to ascertain the suitability of algal biofuels over fossil fuels and biofuels derived from other feedstocks life cycle based holistic assessment is critical. Several factors directly and indirectly affect the acceptability of biofuels derived from algae. This chapter compares the different unit operations and alternatives available for their completion to identify hotspots in algal biofuel production system that are likely to have a disproportionate effect on overall environmental and economic performance of algal biofuels. The idea of manipulating genetic makeup of algae for improved biomass and biofuel production and the concept of algal biorefinery have also been discussed.

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Acknowledgements

One of the authors, Mr. Dipesh Kumar is thankful to UGC for providing Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). Dr. Bhaskar Singh is thankful to UGC for providing Research Start up Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835205, India

    Dipesh Kumar & Bhaskar Singh

  2. Department of Chemistry, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, 221 005, India

    Yogesh Chandra Sharma

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  1. Dipesh Kumar
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  2. Bhaskar Singh
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Correspondence to Bhaskar Singh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Sanjay Kumar Gupta

  2. Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Anushree Malik

  3. Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

    Faizal Bux

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Kumar, D., Singh, B., Sharma, Y.C. (2017). Challenges and Opportunities in Commercialization of Algal Biofuels. In: Gupta, S., Malik, A., Bux, F. (eds) Algal Biofuels. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51010-1_20

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